Best for: Babies and toddlers
Travelling with young children goes beyond kid-friendly amenities; it’s the small details that truly ease the experience for parents. Centara Reserve, a family-friendly resort in lively Chaweng on Koh Samui’s east coast, exemplifies this well. The main pool features a large, shallow section, perfect for toddlers to walk and paddle. Close by, the kids’ club offers a variety of pastel-coloured wooden toys, while a sprinkler area provides fun, refreshing play for little ones in the heat.
For older kids, the beach delivers exciting waves for diving and jet skis available for hire, plus a bright red tractor to tow them back at day’s end—a favorite for my vehicle-loving three-year-old. A spacious grassy area surrounded by palm trees is ideal for practicing those first steps, and there’s an adult-only pool just a short distance away, perfect for a peaceful escape.
Our ocean suite boasted stunning sea views, complete with a sliding door between the main bedroom and the living room, where our son comfortably slept on a large sofa that converts to a bed. The excellent blackout curtains ensured the room remained dark enough for long naps while we enjoyed some quiet time on the balcony, listening to the soothing sounds of the beach. A variety of local restaurants, laundry drop-off services, and 711s are just minutes away, and the airport is a short 15-minute drive, offering a chance for some plane spotting by the pool.
Address: 38, Chaweng Beach, 2 Borpud, Tambon Bo Put, Amphoe Ko Samui, Surat Thani 84320, Thailand
Price: From about £300 (Rs38,100) per night.
